Grand Rapids, Mich., Feb 1, 2019 / 03:28 am
As Catholic schools in many areas of the country struggle to keep attendance up, one Michigan diocese has enjoyed a significant boost in enrollment, after the local bishop introduced a plan to prioritize Catholic education.
"[Catholic schools] are at the heart of the mission of the Church," said David Faber, Superintendent of Catholic Schools for the Diocese of Grand Rapids.
"Catholic schools are good all around, not only for the Church, but for the community and the good of our country," he told CNA.
Faber said the recent growth in Catholic school enrollment followed a 15-year period of decline. The decrease had been due to a drop in the state's economy, a reduction in church attendance, and the Michigan Blaine Amendment that bans the state from providing funds to Catholic schools, he said.